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Camérolaite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Camérolaite
Formula:
Cu6Al3(OH)18(H2O)2[Sb(OH)6](SO4)
Originally assumed to be Cu4Al2(HSbO4,SO4)(CO3)(OH)10·2H2O
Colour:
Blue-green
Lustre:
Silky
Specific Gravity:
3.1
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in honor of Michel Camérola, French mineral collector.
Cyanotrichite Group.
Closely related to carbonatecyanotrichite, less so to cyanotrichite.
The Sb:S ratio appears to be variable (Walenta, 1995). Type camérolaite has S:Sb = 1:1.44; material from the Clara mine has 1:0.64 (Walenta, 1995), although both have nearly identical X-ray powder diffraction patterns; the refractive indices of the Clara material are lower, however, due to the lower Sb content.
Closely related to carbonatecyanotrichite, less so to cyanotrichite.
The Sb:S ratio appears to be variable (Walenta, 1995). Type camérolaite has S:Sb = 1:1.44; material from the Clara mine has 1:0.64 (Walenta, 1995), although both have nearly identical X-ray powder diffraction patterns; the refractive indices of the Clara material are lower, however, due to the lower Sb content.
Name Encoding
ASCII-7:
Camerolaite
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
872
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:872:5
IMA Classification of Camérolaite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Cu2+6Al3(OH)18(H2O)2[Sb5+(OH)6](S6+O4)
Approval year:
1990
First published:
1991
Classification of Camérolaite
7.DE.75
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
E : With only medium-sized cations; unclassified
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
E : With only medium-sized cations; unclassified
44.3.11.1
44 : ANTIMONATES
3 : Miscellaneous
44 : ANTIMONATES
3 : Miscellaneous
12.2.24
12 : Carbonates with other anions
2 : Carbonates with sulphate
12 : Carbonates with other anions
2 : Carbonates with sulphate
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Cmé | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Camérolaite
Silky
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Blue-green
Streak:
Light green
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
{100} and {001}
{100} and {001}
Fracture:
Fibrous
Density:
3.1(1) g/cm3 (Measured) 3.09 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Calculated for idealized formula
Optical Data of Camérolaite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.626 nβ = 1.646 nγ = 1.682
2V:
Measured: 75° to 77°, Calculated: 76°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.056
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
weak
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
α = colorless, β = pale-green, γ = blue-green.
Chemistry of Camérolaite
Mindat Formula:
Cu6Al3(OH)18(H2O)2[Sb(OH)6](SO4)
Originally assumed to be Cu4Al2(HSbO4,SO4)(CO3)(OH)10·2H2O
Originally assumed to be Cu4Al2(HSbO4,SO4)(CO3)(OH)10·2H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Camérolaite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pedial
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.3310(13) Å, b = 2.9130(6) Å, c = 10.727(2) Å
α = 93.77(2)°, β = 96.34(3)°, γ = 79.03(3)°
α = 93.77(2)°, β = 96.34(3)°, γ = 79.03(3)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 2.173 : 1 : 3.682
Unit Cell V:
192.82 ų
Z:
1
Morphology:
Acicular, fibrous, micaceous.
Comment:
Pseudomonoclinic. May be described with a C-centred triclinic cell with a = 12.441(3), b = 2.9130(6), c = 10.727(2) Å, α = 93.77(3), β = 95.57(3), γ = 92.32(3)° (C1, Z = 0.666).Originally assumed cell: a = 10.76, b = 2.90, c = 12.52 Å, beta = 95.61°.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.62 Å | (50) |
| 5.160 Å | (90) |
| 4.276 Å | (100) |
| 3.565 Å | (40) |
| 2.380 Å | (35) |
| 2.326 Å | (35) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] | |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] |
Type Occurrence of Camérolaite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Camerolaite forms tufts and radiating fibrous aggregates (0.5-2mm) of acicular crystals
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mineralogy Department of the Natural History Museum, Geneva, Switzerland.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Camérolaite
Other Language Names for Camérolaite
Relationship of Camérolaite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Cyanotrichite Group:
| Carbonatecyanotrichite | Cu4Al2(CO3,SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Cyanotrichite | Cu4Al2(SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Khaidarkanite | Cu4Al3(OH)14F3 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 5 photos of Camérolaite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 4 photos of Camérolaite associated with Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| 2 photos of Camérolaite associated with Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 2 photos of Camérolaite associated with Langite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 2 photos of Camérolaite associated with Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| 2 photos of Camérolaite associated with Brochantite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 |
| 2 photos of Camérolaite associated with Lavendulan | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
| 2 photos of Camérolaite associated with Pharmacosiderite | KFe3+4(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 6-7H2O |
| 1 photo of Camérolaite associated with Mansfieldite | AlAsO4 · 2H2O |
| 1 photo of Camérolaite associated with Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.DE. | Magnesioalterite | Mg2Fe3+4(SO4)4(C2O4)2(OH)4 · 17H2O |
| 7.DE. | Fabritzite | Zn9(SO4)2(OH)12Cl2 · 6H2O |
| 7.DE. | Cossaite | (Mg0.5,◻)Al6(SO4)6(HSO4)F6 · 36H2O |
| 7.DE. | Downsite | K2(MoO3)3(SO4) · 4H2O |
| 7.DE. | Liangjunite | K2(Mo2O5)(SO4)2 · 3H2O |
| 7.DE.05 | Mangazeite | Al2(SO4)(OH)4 · 3H2O |
| 7.DE.10 | 'UKI-1975-(SO:AlCu)' | (Cu, Al, SO4, H2O) |
| 7.DE.10 | Carbonatecyanotrichite | Cu4Al2(CO3,SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O |
| 7.DE.10 | Cyanotrichite | Cu4Al2(SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O |
| 7.DE.15 | Schwertmannite | Fe3+16(OH,SO4)12-13O16 · 10-12H2O |
| 7.DE.20 | Tlalocite | Cu10Zn6(Te6+O4)2(Te4+O3)(OH)25Cl · 27H2O |
| 7.DE.25 | Utahite | MgCu4Zn2Te6+3O14(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 7.DE.35 | Coquandite | Sb6+xO8+x(SO4)(OH)x(H2O)1- x (x = 0.3) |
| 7.DE.40 | Osakaite | Zn4(SO4)(OH)6 · 5H2O |
| 7.DE.42 | Alterite | Zn2Fe3+4(SO4)4(C2O4)2(OH)4 · 17H2O |
| 7.DE.45 | Barrotite | Cu9Al(HSiO4)2[(SO4)(HAsO4)0.5](OH)12 · 8H2O |
| 7.DE.45 | Wilcoxite | MgAl(SO4)2F · 17H2O |
| 7.DE.47 | Tiberiobardiite | {Cu9Al[SiO3(OH)]2(OH)12(H2O)6}(SO4)1.5 · 10H2O |
| 7.DE.50 | Bouškaite | (MoO2)2O(SO3OH)2(H2O)4 |
| 7.DE.50 | Stanleyite | (V4+O)(SO4) · 6H2O |
| 7.DE.57 | 'Khangalasite' | Fe(SO4)(OH) · 2H2O |
| 7.DE.60 | Hydrobasaluminite | Al4(SO4)(OH)10 · 12-36H2O |
| 7.DE.62 | Volaschioite | Fe4(SO4)O2(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 7.DE.65 | Zaherite | Al12(SO4)5(OH)26 · 20H2O |
Fluorescence of Camérolaite
Nonfluorecent
Other Information
Notes:
Dissolves in HCl
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Camérolaite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-872.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
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References for Camérolaite
Reference List:
Jambor, John L., Puziewicz, Jacek (1992) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 77 (9-10) 1116-1121
Hager, S. L., Leverett, P., Williams, P. A. (2009) Possible Structural and Chemical Relationships in the Cyanotrichite Group. The Canadian Mineralogist, 47 (3) 635-648 doi:10.3749/canmin.47.3.635
Mills, S. J., Christy, A. G., Schnyder, C., Favreau, G., Price, J. R. (2014) The crystal structure of camerolaite and structural variation in the cyanotrichite family of merotypes. Mineralogical Magazine, 78 (7) 1527-1552 doi:10.1180/minmag.2014.078.7.02
Localities for Camérolaite
Showing 19 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Austria | |
| Neuhold et al. (2010) |
| Auer et al. (2017) |
France | |
| Favreau et al. (2003) |
| Toulouse analysis |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... | |
| Neues Jahrb.Min. (1991) +2 other references |
| Favreau et al. (2024) | |
Germany | |
| Walenta (1995) |
| Walenta (1985) +3 other references |
Italy | |
| Ciriotti et al. (2006) |
| Bortolozzi et al. (2015) |
Portugal | |
| Alves (n.d.) |
Slovakia | |
| Pauliš |
| Martin Števko-unpublished | |
| P. Andresen collection |
Spain | |
| García Guirado (2016) |
| Calvo Rebollar (2014) |
Switzerland | |
| CUCHET (1995) +2 other references |
| Ansermet (2012) |
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Cap Garonne Mine, Le Pradet, Toulon, Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France